Restraining device

ABSTRACT

A patient restraining device is provided which is adjustable about a person&#39;&#39;s waist. The size adjustment is made by passing a loop through a selected eyelet. The free end of a belt is passed through the eye of the loop and the end of the belt may be secured to the patient&#39;&#39;s bed or other suitable support.

United States Patent 1191 Reinhardt 1 RESTRAINING DEVICE [76] lnventor: Alberta c. Reinhardt, 1650 California St., San Francisco, Calif. 94109 22 Filed: Jllll84, 1971 1211 Appl. No.: 150,148

[52] US. Cl. 128/134, 297/385, 2/49 R [51] Int. Cl. A6lf 13/00 [58] Field of Search 128/134; 119/96; 297/384, 385; 2/49 R; 224/5 H, 5 K, 5 BC 5 6 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,827,898 3/1958 Thompson 128/134 3,276,431 10 1966 Murcott 119/96 1451 July 3,1973

3,641,997 2/1972 Posey 128/134 530,799 12/1894 Scharf t 128/134 X 1,173,055

2/1916 Stern ..128/134X Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-Ronald L. Frinks Attorney-Eckhoff, Hoppe, Slick, Mitchell and Ander- [57] ABSTRACT A patient restraining device is provided which is adjustable about a person s waist. The size adjustment is made by passing a loop through a selected eyelet. The free end of a belt is passed through the eye of the loop and the end of the belt may be secured to the patients bed or other suitable support. 1

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJULB 191a 3.742.945

sum 1 0f 2 INVENTOR. ALBERTA C. REI HARDT BY /ZM%%ZW ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJULB ms 3,142,945

SHEEI 2 0F 2 FlG .6 FEG T INVENTOR.

72 ALBERTA c. RE! HARDT BY 1 ,1 w

ATTORNEYS RESTRAINING DEVICE This invention relates generally to the art of restraining devices and more particularly to the art of patient restraining devices. This invention provides a device with two separate and independent adjustments. One adjustment is the tightness of the restraining device about the waist of the patient. The second adjustment is in the tightness with which the device is secured to the bed of the patient or other suitable support.

Patient restraining devices in the prior art are of such design that when it is desired to immobilize or substantially restrict the movement of a patient, it is necessary to apply the restraining device to the patient under a substantial amount of tension. The tensile force which is used to secure the restraining device to a support is the same force with which the device is applied to the body of the patient. This is particularly undesirable where it is necessary to restrain or immobilize a patient but where, for medical reasons, it is important to apply minimum pressure to the body of the patient.

Accordingly, it an object of this invention to provide a restraining device with independent adjustments in the tension of that part ofthe device which surrounds the patient and in that part of the device which is secured to a support.

Another object of this invention is to provide a restraining device which is simple to manufacture, easy to apply to a patient and which has relatively few components.

Another object of this invention is to provide a patient restraining device which allows easy handling and movement of a patient in that the portion of the device which is secured to a bed or other suitable support may be removed therefrom easily without taking the device off the body of the patient.

A further object of this invention is to provide a patient restraining device which fastens in a manner which prevents the patient from being able to remove it.

A further object of this invention is to provide a patient restraining device which fastens securely and dependably, without the use of keys or buckles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from consideration of preferred embodiments of the restraining device described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a restraining device of this invention with its components disconnected;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the restraining device shown in FIG. 1 showing some of its components connected for use;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of this invention showing its components disconnected;

FIG. 4 shows the restraining device of FIG. 3 with its components connected;

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of this invention with its components connected;

FIG. 6 shows in detail the adjustment mechanism of the restraining device shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the restraining device of FIG. 5 with its components disconnected.

The restraining device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a belt with free ends 11 and 12; eyelets 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17; loop 18; and hooks or clamps 21 and 22. The belt 10 may be made of material such as canvass or nylon having suitable strength for restraining the movement of a patient.

FIG. 2 shows the restraining belt or device of FIG. 1 as it is assembled during use. Loop 18, rigidly attached at point 19 to belt 10, is passed through eyelet 17 forming an eye 20 in the end of loop 18. Free end 11 of belt 10 passes through eye 20. In this fashion a first section of material comprising the portion of belt 10 which is between loop 18 and eyelet 17 snugly encircles the patients waist so he cannot remove it. The tension with which it is applied depends upon that eyelet through which loop 18 is passed. A second section of material comprising the portion of belt 10 between point 19 and free end 11 and the portion of belt 10 from eyelet 17 to free end 12 is used to adjustably attach belt 10 to the bed of a patient or a suitable support (not shown) at a point out of the patients reach by means of clamps 21 and 22. These two sections of material are attached to each other either temporarily, as with snaps or buttons, or permanently, as by weaving the two sections into one continuous belt as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or by stitching.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the tension felt by the patient depends on two factors. The first factor is through which eyelet loop 18 is passed. The second factor is the amount of tensile force exerted at ends 11 and 12. The patient will experience the greater of these two tensions. The patient may be provided a predetermined range of movement by allowing slack in ends 11 and 12 of belt 10.

FIG. 3 shows a restraining vest 30 constructed in accordance with this invention. It comprises a front secton 31 for covering the chest and stomach of a patient and a rear section 32 for covering the back of a patient. A belt 33 is attached to the front portion 31 of the vest along its lower edge 34. This attachment may be made by means of stitching. Belt 33 has free ends 35 and 36. A plurality of eyelets 37 in belt 33 is disposed adjacent the front portion 31 of vest 30 and extends toward free end 35 of belt 33. A second plurality of eyelets 38 is formed in belt 33 adjacent the front portion 31 of vest 30 and extends toward free end 36. Loops 40 and 41 are disposed on opposite sides of the back portion of vest 30.

Vest 30 is applied to a patient as follows. The vest 30 is placed over the patient, the patients head fitting through opening 43. Belt 33 is located near the waist of the patient. Loops 40 and 41 are drawn around the sides of the patient, and each is pulled through a selected eyelet, loop 40 passing through one of the plurality of eyelets 38, loop 41 passing through one of the plurality of eyelets 37. Loops 40 and 41 may be formed from a 'double thickness strap 44 which is disposed along the lower edge of back portion 32 of vest 30.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the section of material which encircles the waist of a patient comprises strap 44, loops 40 and 41, and that portion of belt 33 which is between the selected eyelets through which loops 40 and 41 pass.

When loop 40 is passed through one of the plurality of eyelets 38, an eye 45 as shown in FIG. 4 is formed. End 36 of belt 33 is passed through eye 45, thereby fastening that portion of material encircling the waist of the patient at a suitable tightness or fit. End 37 is passed through the eye formed in loop 41 in similar fashion. Ends 36 and 37 may be fitted with clamps 47 and 48 suitable for attaching the ends 36 and 37 to a support or to the bed of the patient (not shown) at a point beyond his reach.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tightness of the fit around the waist of the patient is independent of the tension which may be exerted on belt 33 by attaching ends 35 and 36 to suitable supports. In this embodiment a comfortable fit can be provided around the waist of the patient while at the same time a much larger force can be applied in belt 33, serving to hold the patient in the center of his bed or wheel chair. Additionally, the patient can be afforded a great range of movement by providing slack in belt 33. Sufficient slack may be allowed to enable the patient to lie on his side or to roll over onto his stomach but he still cannot unfasten the belt from his waist.

A third embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGS. through 7. A vest 60 comprises a front section 61 and a rear section 62. The essential structural difference between this embodiment and that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is that the positions of the loops and eyelets have been switched.

Loops 63 and 64, as shown in FIG. 7, are formed at either end of strap 77 which is attached to the front section 61 of vest 60 on lower edge 65 thereof. Ears 66 and 67 are formed on opposite ends of strap 76 which is disposed on the lower edge of back portion 62.

A plurality of .eyelcts 69 is formed in car 66 and a second plurality of eyelets 70 is formed in ear 67. Belt 71 with free ends 72 and 73 is attached to front portion 61 of vest 60 along lower edge 65 thereof.

As shown best in FIG. 6, loop 63 is passed through a selected eyelet forming an eye 64. End 72 of belt 71 is passed through eye 64 of loop 63. Ends 72 and 73 may be attached to the frame of the patients bed or any other suitable support.

Although FIG. 5 shows belt 71 passing around the sides of bed 80, it is also possible and sometimes desirable to attach ends 72 and 73 to supports located at substantially the same height as edge 65. By attaching ends 72 and 73 to supports at the same height as edge 65, the patient experiences none of the tension applied to belt 71 -by pulling the ends 72 and 73 taught between suitable supports. These supports may be side rails of the bed.

Hooks or clamps 74 and 75 are provided at ends 72 and 73 of belt 71 to provide means for connecting the ends of belt 71 to either the patients bed or a suitable support.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 through 7, there are two operative sections of the restraining device which cooperate to restrict movement of the patient. The first section comprises strap 76, cars 66 and 67, loops 63 and 64, and strap 77, which is located between loops 63 and 64. This first section of material encircles the waist of the patient and is provided with means for adjusting the tightness or fit of the material about the patient's waist. A second section of material comprises belt 71 with ends 72 and 73. This second section of material may be adjustably tightened independently of the tightness of the first section of material.

In each of the embodiments shown, there are no fastening mechanisms within the patient's reach which could be disconnected by the patient. The fastening of the restraining device around the patients waist is accomplished by the interaction of loops and belts, thereby avoiding the use of buckles, keys, snaps and similar connectors which tend to be more difficult to use and which provide less dependable connection than this invention.

I claim 1. A restraining device comprising: a first section of material suitable for encircling the waist of a person including a loop attached to said material, a plurality of eyelets formed in said material at such locations that an adjustable fit around a persons waist is achieved by passing said loop through a selected eyelet, said loop passing through a selected eyelet and forming an eye through said selected eyelet, a second section of material with two ends, at least one of which passes through said eye, and means attaching said second section to said first section of material.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for attaching said ends to a support.

3. A patient restraining device comprising: a vest with a front section for covering the chest and stomach of a patient and a rear section for covering the back of a patient, two loops attached to opposite sides of said rear section, a belt attached to said front section with two ends leading from the point of attachment, said belt having two pluralities of eyelets therein on opposite sides of said from section, said eyelets and loops so disposed that said vest can be put on a patient at an adjustable fit by passing each of said loops through a selected eyelet, each of said loops forming an eye upon passing through an eyelet, and said ends of said belt disposed in such a manner that each end passes through one of said eyes. 1

4. The device of claim 3 further comprising means for connecting the ends of said belt to a support.

5. A patient restraining device comprising: a vest with a front section for covering the chest and stomach of a patient and a rear section for covering the back of a patient, two loops attached to opposite sides of said front section, two ears attached to opposite sides of for connecting the ends of said belt to a support.

i t 4 4 I 

1. A restraining device comprising: a first section of material suitable for encircling the waist of a person including a loop attached to said material, a plurality of eyelets formed in said material at such locations that an adjustable fit around a person''s waist is achieved by passing said loop through a selected eyelet, said loop passing through a selected eyelet and forming an eye through said selected eyelet, a second section of material with two ends, at least one of which passes through said eye, and means attaching said second section to said first section of material.
 2. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for attaching said ends to a support.
 3. A patient restraining device comprising: a vest with a front section for covering the chest and stomach Of a patient and a rear section for covering the back of a patient, two loops attached to opposite sides of said rear section, a belt attached to said front section with two ends leading from the point of attachment, said belt having two pluralities of eyelets therein on opposite sides of said front section, said eyelets and loops so disposed that said vest can be put on a patient at an adjustable fit by passing each of said loops through a selected eyelet, each of said loops forming an eye upon passing through an eyelet, and said ends of said belt disposed in such a manner that each end passes through one of said eyes.
 4. The device of claim 3 further comprising means for connecting the ends of said belt to a support.
 5. A patient restraining device comprising: a vest with a front section for covering the chest and stomach of a patient and a rear section for covering the back of a patient, two loops attached to opposite sides of said front section, two ears attached to opposite sides of said rear section, a plurality of eyelets in each of said ears, said eyelets and loops so disposed that said vest can be put on a patient at an adjustable fit by passing each of said loops through a selected eyelet, each of said loops forming an eye upon passing through an eyelet, and a belt attached to the front of said vest with two ends leading from the point of attachment, said ends disposed in such a manner that each end passes through one of said eyes.
 6. The device of claim 5 further comprising means for connecting the ends of said belt to a support. 